THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has raised concerns on its huge budget cuts under this year’s P5.768 trillion national budget as it is expected to “greatly affect” many of the agency’s primary functions, the chair of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways said yesterday.
Surigao del Sur Rep. Romeo Momo said his panel will bring to Speaker Martin Romualdez’ attention the DPWH’s concerns since it is expected to impact the department’s preliminary detailed engineering, road right of way acquisition, Official Development Assistance infrastructure flagship projects, and its Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses.
The DPWH’s P822.2 billion budget this year is P72 billion lower than what its budget last year.
Momo said the DPWH, headed by Secretary Manuel Bonoan, informed his panel of the department’s concerns in a briefing last Monday when the DPWH discussed its accomplishment and performance report for 2023 and its project implementation for 2024 in a briefing held in Mandaluyong City.
The DPWH also discussed its policy and direction, including priorities, major programs, and projects for 2025, and updates on the Official Development Assistance and other issues.
“It was then resolved by the committee to discuss these concerns with House Speaker Martin Romualdez,” said Momo, who, himself, is a former public works secretary.
In support for President Marcos’ “Build, Better, More Program,” Momo said he would seek more budget for the DPWH in the next budget deliberations for 2025.
Momo acknowledged the vital role of the agency in realizing the Marcos Jr. administrations’ visions, saying “the backbone of an economy is its infrastructure.”
“Hence as legislators, we need to ensure that, not only we have relevant laws in support of our infrastructure projects and programs, such as the Public-Private Partnership Code and Road Right of Way Bill under House Bill No. 6571, amending RA 10752, but more importantly, the DPWH shall have correct and sufficient budget for its various priority programs and operating expenses,” he said.
The lawmaker earlier hailed the passage of the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines (PPP Code), which he sponsored in plenary, saying it will strengthen the relationship between the public and the private sectors and help the government achieve its infrastructure program goals.
Momo highlighted the need for Congress “to be apprised of the department’s accomplishments, as well as its major concerns, in order for us to act accordingly so that altogether as public servants, we can work as one towards achieving a common goal of giving the Filipino people better and improved lives.”
He said the DPWH briefed lawmaker on the status of their respective legislative district’s infrastructure projects “and also gave us the total perspective as to where our nation’s infrastructure progress is going in the succeeding years.”
